Toy baseball game



Aug. 14, 1956 5. J. FIORILLA TOY BASEBALL GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1954 INVENTOR.

Sm. VHTORE J F/oR/LLn HTTORNEY Aug. 14, 1956 s. J. FIORILLA TOY BASEBALL GAME Filed Oct. 29. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 9 I d /A iza INVENTOR.

SFr'LVF! TORE J F/oR/LL H HT TORNEY United States Patent TOY BASEBALL GAME Salvatore J. Fiorilla, Paterson, N. J., assignor of one-half to James J. Cannon, Glen Rock, N. J.

' Application October 29, 1954, Serial No. 465,566

Claims. Cl. 273-88) My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in toy baseball games; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

An object of the invention is to provide a game of this class comprising a top board which is marked off to represent a baseball field upon which plays are made similar to those used in the regulation outdoor game.

A further object of the invention is to provide a baseball game so constructed that the offensive or defensive players can make their plays secretly and without knowledge of each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a baseball game in which the element of luck is to an extent eliminated, and in which the winning of the game depends solely on ones ability to guess the other players move in order to win as opposing players do in a regulation outdoor baseball game.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not to be confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications make no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures:

Fig. 1 is a side view partially broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a left hand view of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a right hand view of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of Fig. 1 illustrating the game in a neutral position and showing the defensive players mechanical means for deception.

Fig. 6 is a partial view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the offensive players mechanical means for deceptive plays in one of its other positions.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a partial plan view looking in the direction of the arrows 99 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a similar view to Fig. 9 with the top board broken away to illustrate the ball or marble deflectors; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line 1111 of Fig. 2 illustrating the ball or marble deflectors more clearly.

The invention comprises a box-like housing or casing 10 having the bottom 11, the offensive players end 12, the defensive players end 13, sides 14 and 15, and the top board 16. The top board 16 is detachably fastened to the housing 10; the fastening means are not shown. The upper surface of the top board 16 has secured thereto the slotted or perforated board 17. The slots or perforations in board 17 form the channels 18, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18 and 18g as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 2, used for rolling down the balls or marbles 19, one of which is shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11. At the defensive players end 13 of the top boards 16 and 17, the channels 18 to 18g inclusive terminate in the openings 20 to 20g inclusive.

The top board 16 and its surfacing slotted board 17 are colored and outlined to indicate a miniature baseball ield 21, having a homeplate indicated by the reference numeral 22 and 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases indicated by the reference numerals 23, 24 and 25 respectively. Home plate 22 and the bases 23, 24 and 25 have the holes 26 located in the centers thereof to receive the stem of piece or figure 27 simulating a base runner, see Fig. 1. Mounted also on the top board 16 is the score board 28 by means of the pins 29. The score board has the discs 30 and 31 by means of which the opposing teams earned runs are scored, the disc 32 to indicate the inning of the game, and the disc 33 to indicate the number of outs per inning. The front of the score board 28 has the openings 34 through which the numerals on the various score board discs 30, 31, 32 and 33 may be registered as illustrated in Fig. 1; said discs being rotatably mounted on the pins 35.

The defensive players end 13 has the stop 36, Figs. 1 and 2, to prevent the balls 19 from going beyond said end 13 and causing them to fall in either of the openings 29 to 20g according to in which one of the channels 18 to 18g the ball 19 may have been placed. The stop 36 is entirely closed at its top surface and sides, and is held in position on the top board by means of the side extensions 37, see Figs. 1, 9 and 10, which protrude downwardly through slots 38 in the top of the housing 10. (See Fig. 9.)

Mounted on the top board 16 at the oifensive players end 12 is the shield 39. This shield is secured to a hearing rod 40 supported at its ends by the bearing blocks 41. These bearing blocks have the pins 42 (see Fig. 5) secured in their base portions which engage in holes provided in the top board 16 to support and hold them in position. The shield 39 is provided with a centrally located rectangular opening 43 which is obscured from the defensive players view by means of the vertical flange 44 integral with the front edge of the rectangular opening 43. The purpose of the rectangular opening 43 and its flange 44 will be more fully described hereinafter. The lower edge of the shield 39 is notched to provide the projections 45 which protrude into the channels 18 to 18g inclusive as seen most clearly in Fig. 2. The purpose of these projections 45 is to insure against any possibility of the defensive player observing in which of the channels 18 to 18g the offensive player has placed the ball 19. Since only one ball is used for each play to be made, the weight of the shield 39 need only be slightly greater than that of the ball 19 to hold it in position as shown in Fig. 1.

Located behind the pitchers mound 46, Fig. 2, and secured to the top board 16 is a guide block 47 in which are slidably mounted three push pins 48, 49 and 50, in front of which respectively are printed the words Curve, Fast and Slow. These represent three pitches a pitcher may throw in a regulation baseball game and the defensive player may choose one of said pins to push downward when a play is to be made. The purpose of and action resulting from the pushing downward of these push pins 48, 49 or 50 will be more fully described hereinafter. The lower ends of the push pins 48, 49 and 50 contact the short leverage ends of the lifting rods 48a,

49a and 50a having enlarged squared-off heads at their long leverage ends as shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. These lifting rods are pivoted on the bearing pin 51 located in the bearing blocks 52 and are held in alignment by the spacer pieces 53 and 54 at their long and short leverage ends respectively.

Mounted on the underside of the top board 16 and centrally located is the slide block 55 supported by the guides 56 secured to the top board. See Fig. 1. The slide block 55 may be moved to either the right or left of-the center line by means of finger pressure on the vertically extending finger end knobs or pins 57 secured in the slide block 55 for that purpose. See Figs. 5 and 6. The extent of movement of the slide block 55 to either the right or left is limited byqthe contact of the finger end knobs or pins 57 against the-ends of the rectangular slot 58 provided in the top boards 16 and 17. Also carried by the slide block 55 and slidably mounted therein are the two Strike pegs 59 and 59a which are colored red, the two Ball pegs 60 and 600 which are colored blue and the shield 39 lifter 61. It is readily seen, that the offensive player by shifting the slide block' 55 can set up three variations to try to deceive the defensive player as to which of the three pitches he should make when he selects either the Curve, Fast or Slow ball as represented by the push pins 48, 49 and 50 respectively. The lower ends of the Ball and Strike pegs and the shield lifter 61 are enlarged to properly be engaged by the squared off heads of the lifting rods 48a, 49a and 50a as seen most clearly in Figs. 7 and 8. The head portion of the ball shield lifter is so constructed that when it is moved upward as illustrated in Fig. 8, it will swing the shield 39 upward to release the ball 19. The head of lifter 61 also has the pointer or indicator 61a which when the slide block 55 is moved by the offensive player will point to a pitch that may outguess the defensive players pitch play and score a hit. The offensive player shifts the slide block 55 until the pointer 61a of the shield lifter 61 is directly over either of the printed words Slow, Fast and Curve, Fig. 3, which are in direct line with the pitch push pins 48, 49 and 50 and their corresponding liftng rods 48a, 49a and 50a either of which the defensive player may select. This move on the-part of the offensive player is one of the three deceptive moves he can make in order to outguess the defensive players pitch play. The shield lifter 61 and knobs 57 and the strike and ball pegs 59, 59a and 60 and 60a are all obscured from view of the defensive player by means of the vertical flange 44 integral with the edge of the rectangular opening 43. The only time the defensive player sees any of the Strike and Ball pegs 59, 59a, 60 and 60a is when he presses down one of the push pins 48, 49 or 50. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the defensive player has pushed down the Curve pitch push pin 48 and caused the Strike peg 59 to rise into view above the vertical flange 44. Should the defensive player press down the Fast pitch push pin 49 it would cause the shield lifter to lift the shield as illustrated in Fig. 8 and release the ball 19 as shown in dotted lines. Both of the foregoing moves by the defensive player are made with the slide block 55 in the position illustrated in Fig. 5. If the defensive player were to push down the same two pitch push pins 48 and 49 with the offensive player having moved the slide block 55 toward the right as illustrated in Fig. 6, the first move or Curve pitch would have caused the shield 39 to be raised to release the ball 19 and the second move or Fast ball pitch would have caused the Ball peg 60a to be raised into view instead of the Strike peg 59.

The offensive player selects his ball position for a hit or run by choosingany one of the eight channels 18 to 18g inclusive. The simulated portion of the baseball field to which he wishes to play is indicated on theface of the offensive players end 12 of the housing as illustrated in Fig. 3. As shown, the ball 19 is in position for a hit into Right Field.

, Located at the defensive players end 13 of the housing 10 and out of view of the offensive player are the four knobs 62, 63, 64 and 65, having the pointers 62a, 63a, 64a and 65a respectively attached thereto. The shafts 62b, 63b, 64b and 65b of knobs 62, 63, 64 and 65 extend through the end 13 of the housing and one side of an inclined trough 66; the inner .ends of the shafts having a bearing in the inner side of said inclined trough 66 as shown most clearly in Figs. 10 and 11. The shafts 62b, 63b, 64b and 65b are centrally located between pairs .of the ball channels 18 to 18g inclusive as is most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 10. Also mounted on the shafts 62b, 63b, 64b, and 65b are the tapered ball deflectors 62c, 63c, 64c, and 65c which are so mounted that each of said ball deflectors can be turned over into the path of either one of the two ball channels 18 to 18g inclusive and their corresponding openings 20 to 20g inclusive with which it is associated as already described herein.

Located at the defensive players end of the game and slidably mounted therein is the drawer 67. This drawer 67 slides in around the'bottom and sides of the inclined trough 66, said trough having a partition 66a down its center line which coincides with a center partition 67a of the drawer 67; see Fig. 11 which most clearly illustrates this feature. The front end of the inclined trough 66 has openings which, lead directly into corresponding compartments 67b and 67c on each side of the partition 67a of the drawer 67. The drawer 67 has a pull pin 68 secured to its front panel. The compartment 660 of the inclined trough 66 leads directly into the compartment 670 of the drawer 67 and the compartment 66b of the inclined trough 66 leads directly into the compartment 67b of the drawer 67. Each of the drawer compartments 67c and 67b is defined by the printed words Outs and Hits respectively (see Figs. 9 and 10).

The four knobs 62, 63, 64 and 65 and the ball deflectors 62c, 63c, 64c, and 650 already described in detail are provided for the defensive players use in order that he may direct a Hit play by the offensive player into an Out decision. This is a guess move by the defensive player and he has only four guesses against the eight Hit plays which the offensive player can make as already described herein. Referring to Fig. 4 which illustrates the defensive players end 13 of the game, it is readily seen that the various plays the player can choose to play are also indicated, one on either side of the knobs 62, 63, 64 and 65; all of which cannot be seen by the oflfensive player; the plays being in the same order and at the ends of the same ball channels as they are at the offensive players end. When the offensive player has placed the ball 19 behind the shield 39 as illustrated in Fig. 3 it will be noted that it is in the channel calling for a hit to Right Field. The defensive player turns the knobs 62, 63, 64, and 65 to the right or left, see Fig. 4, as indicated by the arrows, until their pointers 62a, 63a, 64a and 65a point directly at the play he thinks the defensive player is trying to make as is clearly shown. As illustrated it is seen that the pointer 62a indicates that the defensive player has guessed that the offensive player has placed the ball 19 in the channel 18 for a hit play to Right Field as shown in Fig. 3. The pointer position indicates that the ball deflector 620 is directly under the opening 20 at the end of channel 18. It is readily seen that when the shield 39 is raised and the ball 19 released as illustrated in Fig. 8, it will roll down the channel 18 and hit the stop 36 as shown in Fig. 11. The ball will then drop down through the opening 20 and fall upon the tapered ball deflector 62c causing said ball to roll and fall into the compartment 66c of the trough 66 from which it will roll into the Out compartment 67c of the drawer 67 as illustrated in Fig. 10. If the knob 62 had been turned so that the pointer 62a indicated a guess of a 1st Base hit, the ball deflector 620 would have been turned over to a position under the opening-20a, and the ball in dropping through opening 20 would have fallen into the compartment 66b of the trough 66 and rolled into the Hit compartment of the drawer 67.

Having thus described my game in detail I will now describe its rules and how it is played.

The players select their teams, designated by the blue and red pieces 27 (Fig. 1). The offensive player or team at bat is given four marbles or balls of different colors; one black, one red, one blue and one white. Each of these balls according to its color represents the length of Hit made or the number of Outs. The ratings of each play are as follows: Black ball, a single or 1 out: Red ball, a double or 2 outs; Blue ball, a triple or 3 outs; and the White ball, a home run for 1 point.

The game is played similar to the actual game of baseball by two people. One player takes the at hat or offensive team position and the other player takes the fielding or defensive team position. The batting team stays at bat until it has acquired three outs and then changes position. The game continues until nine innings have been played.

The team at bat or the offensive player selects one of the eight channels 18 to 18g inclusive and places one of the four colored balls 19 in the channel he selected for his play, the play ball being concealed behind the shield 39. The offensive player then will shift the slide block 55 toward the right or left as already described herein and illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 to outguess the defensive player as to the pitch play he will make.

With the offensive players first moves completed, the defensive player then turns the knobs 62 to 65 inclusive to the position at which he figures the offensive player may try to make the play as already described herein. After this is done, the defensive player presses down his selection of one of the three push pins located at the pitchers box, 48 Curve; 49 Fast or 50 Slow ball. Should the defensive player push down the Fast ball push pin 49, the ball 19 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 8 will be released and roll down into the Out compartment of the drawer 67 as already described. The number of outs is regulated by the color of the ball played and the score is registered on the score board disc 33. If the blue or white ball was played, there would be three Outs and the sides would change position. If there is only one or two Outs recorded on a play the offensive player retrieves the ball played in order that he may use the same ball for a second play if he chooses. The offensive player then makes his next choice of a play as indicated at his end 12 of the game housing and places a ball in the ball channel above the indicated play. When this is accomplished, the offensive player again shifts the slide block 55 to another deceptive pitch position or allows it to remain .in the same position if he chooses and is ready for the defensive player to make his play. Should the defensive player decide to allow the ball deflectors 620 to 6550 inclusive to remain as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 as for the play already described, and the ball 19 is placed into the channel 18a by the offensive player, then the release of the ball, should the defensive player make the wrong pitch play from the pitchers mound by uses of pins 48, 49 or 50, the ball 19 would roll down and into the hit compartment 675 of the drawer 67 as already described herein, and according to the color of ball designating the length of hit, a piece 27 representing a baseball player is placed in position on the corresponding base position.

The ball played is again retrieved by the offensive player and the various moves already described are repeated. Should the offensive player outguess the de- ,ensive player as to his pitch play from the pitchers box on push pin 48, 49 and 50 plays to cause him to have a total of four blue pegs representing Balls pitched, the offensive player places another piece 27 (baseball player) on base and advances the players on base if the base runner positions were set up on previous offensive players plays. Should the defensive player outguess the offensive players pitch play moves with theslide block 55 and have three strikes called, it will be registered on the score board 28 as an out. During each of the various ball and strike plays of the defensive player, the offensive player is at liberty to change the position of the slide block 55; but he is not allowed to change the position of the ball 19 after it has been placed in a desired channel as it represents a batter in the box, until either a walk or strike-out is called as in a regulation baseball game and then a new batter is in the batters box at home plate. At this point, the offensive player may change the channel position of the ball or he may even change for a ball of another color and length of hit.

From the foregoing description it may be readily seen that the offensive player, through his deceptive plays,

can score numerous runs and continues to remain in thebatting teams posit-ion until theregulation three outs are recorded on the score board 28. The players then change positions; the offensive player taking his pieces 27 from the base paths retires to the defensive players position and the game is continued as already described.

Having thus described my invention; it will be seen. that a simple, cheap to manufacture and easily operated simulated baseball game has been provided which may be played in a manner to have all the interest and fascination of the regular game of baseball, and that the principles of the game may be followed with considerable detail.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inven-,

tion.

What I claim is:

1. In a toy baseball game, in combination, a box-like housing, having a fiat bottom, and sides and ends, one end being slightly higher than the other end, said higher end being the offensive: players end, and said lower end being the defensive players end, and having a top board detachably fastened to said housing, said top board having channels in its upper surface, said channels having holes at the lower end, said top board having superimposed thereon the design of a baseball diamond; the pitchers mound having slidably mounted therein three pushpins and three actuating members pivotally mounted beneath said pitchers mound to form levers; said members being individually activated by said pushpins; the opposite ends of said members actuating a series of movable pins representing balls and strikes, and a ball releasing shield lifter, said shield being pivoted at the outer edges of said top board, and extending downward at an angle concealing from the view of the defensive-player the ball and strike pins, lifter, and ball in play; a rectangular slot located centrally in said shield through which the ball and strike pins are brought into view when actuated, said ball and strike pins and shield lifter being mounted in a slidable. block for deceptive defense plays; a plurality of rotatable means located at the defensive players end and between pairs of said channels; each of said means consisting of a rotatable block which can be turned into position beneath the hole in either of said channels at the defensive end of said channels to divert the ball from a hit trough to an out trough, said troughs running across and beneath said channels and a drawer at one end of said troughs having a dividing portion, one portion being labelled hits and the other outs, in order to ascertain the balls destination, said hits and outs portions of the drawer respectively communicating with the hit and out troughs.

2. In a toy baseball game, in combination, a box-like housing, having a flat bottom, and sides and ends, one end being slightly higher than the other end, said higher end being the offensive players end, and said lower end being the defensive players end, and having a top board detachably fastened to said housing, said top board having channels in its upper surface, said channels having holes at the lower end, said top board having superimposed thereon the design of a baseball diamond; the pitcher's mound having slidably mounted therein three pushpins and three actuating members pivotally mounted beneath said pitchers mound to form levers; said members being individually activated by said pushpins; the opposite ends of said members actuating a series of movable pins representing balls and strikes, and a ball releasing shield lifter, said shield being pivoted at the outer edges of said top board, and extending downward at an angle concealing from the view of the defensive player the ball and strike pins, lifter, and ball in piay: a rectangular slot located centrally in said shield thre". which the ball and strike pins are brought into v when actuated, said ball and strike pins and shield lifter being mounted in a slidable block for deceptive defense plays; a plurality of rotatable means located. at the de fensive players end and between pairs of said channels; each of said means consisting of a rotatable block which can be turned into position beneath the hole in either of said channels at the defensive end of said channels to divert the ball from a hit trough to an out trough, said troughs running across and beneath said channel and a drawer at one end of said troughs having a dividing portion, one portion being labelled hits and the other outs, in order to ascertain the balls destination, said hits and outs portions of the drawer respectively communicating with the hit and out troughs; said top having four channels to the right of the catchers box and four channels to the left of the catchers box, said channels extending the entire length of said top, both of said troughs being on an. incline, and said drawer being movable.

3. In a toy baseball game, in combination, a box-like housing, having a flat bottom, and sides and ends, one end being slightly higher than the other end, said higher end being the offensive players end, and said lower end being the defensive players end, and having a top board detachably fastened to said housing, said top board having channels in its upper surface, said channels having holes at the lower end, said top board having superimposed thereon the design of a baseball diamond; the pitchers mound having slidably mounted therein three pushpins and three actuating members pivotally mounted beneath said pitchers mound to form levers; said members being individually activated by said pushpins; the

opposite ends of said members actuating a series of movable pins representing balls and strikes, and a ball releasing shield lifter, said shield being pivoted at the outer edges of said top board, and extending downward at an angle concealing from the view of the defensive player the ball and strike pins, lifter, and ball in play; a rectangular slot located centrally in said shield through which the ball and strike pins are brought into view when actuated, said ball and strike pins and shield lifter being mounted in a slidable block for deceptive defense plays; a plurality of rotatable means located at the defensive players end and between pairs of said channels; each of said means consisting of a rotatable block which can be turned into position beneath the hole in either of said channels at the defensive end of said channels to divert the ball from a hit trough to an out trough, said troughs running across and beneath said chanels and a drawer at one end of said troughs having a dividing portion, one portion being labelled hits and the other outs, in order to ascertain the balls destination, said hits and outs portions of the drawer respectively communicating with the hit and out troughs; said top having four channels to the right of the catchers box, and four channels to the left of the catchers box, said channels extending the entire length of. said top, said releasing shield having projections to fit into said top channels, said slidable block having pins on each end to facilitate shifting and also to act as stop elements, when said ball and strike pins and shield lifter are shifted from one possible position to another, said releasing shield holding back the ball put in play until said releasing shield is released by said releasing shield lifter and said ball in play rolls down the particular channel it has been placed in when said shield lifter lifts said shield, said pushpins representing fast, curved and slow balls.

4. In a toy baseball game, in combination, a box-like housing, having a flat bottom, and sides and ends, one end being slightly higher than the other end, said higher end being the offensive players end, and said lower end being the defensive players end, and having a top board detachably fastened to said housing, said top board having channels in its upper surface, said channels having holes at the lower end, said top board having superimposed thereon the design of a baseball diamond; the pitchers mound having slidably mounted therein three pushpins and three actuating members pivotally mounted beneath said pitchers mound to form levers; said members being individually activated by said pushpins; the opposite ends of said members actuating a series of movable pins representing balls and strikes and a ball releasing shield lifter, said shield being pivoted at the outer edges of said top board, and extending downward at an angle concealing from the view of the defensive player the ball and strike pins, lifter, and the ball in play; a rectangular slot located centrally in said shield through which the ball and strike pins are brought into view when actuated, said ball and strike pins and shield lifter being mounted in a slidable block for deceptive defense plays; a plurality of rotatable means located at the defensive players end and between pairs of said channels; each of said means consisting of a rotatable block which can be turned into position beneath the hole-in either of said channels at the defensive end of said channels to divert the ball from a hit trough to an out trough, said troughs running across and beneath said channels and a drawer at one end of said troughs having a dividing portion, one portion being labelled hits and the other outs, in order to ascertain the balls destination, said hits and outs portions of the drawer respectively communicating with the hit and out troughs; and having on the left field side a score board mounted on said housing showing the scores of each team, the innings and outs.

5. In a toy baseball game, in combination, a box-like housing, having a fiatbottom, and sides and ends, one end being slightly higher than the other end, said higher end being the offensive players end and said lower end being the defensive players end, and having a top board detachably fastened to said housing, said top board having channels in its upper surface, said channels having holes at the lower end, said top board having superimposed thereon the design of a baseball diamond; the pitchers mound having slidably mounted therein three pushpins and three actuating members pivotally mounted beneath said pitchers mound to form levers; said members being individually activated by said pushpins; the opposite ends of said members actuating a series of movable pins representing balls and strikes, and a ball releasing shield lifter, said shield being pivoted at the outer edges of said top'board, and extending downward at an angle concealing fromtheview of the defensive player the ball and strike pins, lifter, and ball in play; a rectangular slot located centrally in said shield through which the ball and strike pins are-brought into view when actuated, said ball and strike pins and shield lifter being mounted in a slidable block for deceptive defense plays; a plurality of rotatable means located at the defensive players end and between pairs of said channels; each of said means consisting of a rotatable block which can be turned into position beneath the hole in either of said chanels at the defensive end of said channels to'divert the ball from a hit: trough to anout trough, said troughs running across 10 and beneath said channels and a drawer at one end of References Cited in the file of this patent said troughs having a dividing portion, one portion being UNITED STATES PATENTS labelled hits and the other outs, in order to ascertain the balls destination, said hits and outs portions of the 1,319,799 sauper 1919 drawer respectively communicating with the hit and out 5 1593'146 et July 1926 troughs; and having at the defensive players end and at 2252: :32 the end of the channels a hood to prevent the ball from 2466156 Dawson et a1 p 5, 1949 going beyond the playing field. 

